In this age of crossovers, video game publishers leverage anything that can help maximize their sales. Some turn their storylines into cartoons and Hollywood movies. Others license their publishing rights to slot machine developers and book authors.
But one of their most successful strategies has been to use gambling mini-games that help players earn in-game coins or unlock special weapons. This article looks at some of the most successful gambling min-games featured in well-known video games.
Grand Theft Auto Series
After years of waiting, Rockstar finally opened the Diamond Casino & Resort in GTA V last year. It’s a stunning casino in every way, and one every GTA player should check out. It features all popular casino games, including slots, blackjack, poker, and baccarat.
Although the Diamond casino only opened last year, GTA has been experimenting with gambling min-games since the days of Vice City and San Andreas. It has always supported horse racing betting and other forms of betting.
Of course, you can’t win real money at the casino. For that, you need to find a real money gambling website. You also need to choose the right games. Playing online slots that payout frequently can increase your odds of winning. Using bonuses also ensures you maximize your profits.
The Witcher 3
The Witcher is so good that it’s been turned into a Netflix series. Looking back at some of the things that made it exciting, we can’t ignore its Gwent Card mini-game. It is a minor component of the game, but it is fun and essential if you want to break the ice with people at clubs.
For clarity, Gwent is only available in the third sequel of the game. It’s a three-round game in which the objective is to win two rounds. It works a bit like poker, whereby you need to produce cards whose total value is better than your opponent’s.
The reward for winning is money you can use to purchase supplies for Geralt and his horse. On the flip side, losing money means not having enough resources to complete missions.
Watchdogs
A lot of people had trouble sympathizing with Aiden Pearce, Watchdogs’ main character. He had caused the death of his sister indirectly. He was bland and unlikeable—features that forced Ubisoft Montreal to introduce a new star and storyline in the game’s sequel.
Despite that, Watchdogs wasn’t entirely unlikeable. It had impressive gameplay and mini-games that brought out the only cool thing about Aiden—he’s a hacker. That means you don’t have to think too hard to beat your opponents at poker.
When you get to the right pub, you can let Aiden hack cameras and give you a chance to view what cards your opponents are holding. That way, you’ll know when to bluff, double down or fold.
Fallout New Vegas
Fallout New Vegas is yet another video game that upset a lot of people for demanding too much while giving little in return. For starters, you have to create a whole lot of innocent people to earn caps, in-game coins to unlock new missions and cool stuff.
But beneath its numerous missions, the video game also gives you a chance to increase your caps. All you have to do is to visit one of the game’s six gambling spots. Find a slot machine or spin roulette wheels to win money, beer, leather armor, or a key to a lavish suite.
What’s more, you can hit the jackpot in some of the slots and walk away with thousands of caps. But beware casinos in the game hate winners. That means if you win too much, you could easily get thrown out or banned for life.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Mention a better game than RDR2 in 2018 and early 2019. What’s that? Sure, God of War won Game of the Year. But perhaps no game created more buzz online but Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption II. Almost everyone who played it admitted the game loved it.
From its graphics to storyline, gameplay to mini-games, everything in RDR2 played out perfectly. The game’s mini-games also played an important role: they help you unlock the Hobby Horse Trophy. You also must complete them to complete RDR2 100%.
That being said, none of the min-games is impossible to finish. Blackjack works out like in real life. You need to produce cards whose total value is closest to or equal to 21. Poker works Texas Hold’em style while Fiver Finger Fillet and Dominoes are also easy to play.
Red Dead Redemption
The original Red Dead Redemption also features a game of dice you needed to play to finish it 100%. However, you must unlock the “Man is born unto trouble” or “the Nigel West Dickens” missions to open it.
Once that’s done, you need to find a gambling spot and an NPC to play with. Everyone gets five pieces of dice. The game selects a random person to predict the outcome of dice tossed by everyone around the table.
For example, he can predict there are three fives or two fours. You can agree or disagree with a bet, make a bid or increase your wager. The winner is determined through an elimination round. Precisely, everyone who got the prediction wrong loses one die each round until one person becomes the winner.
Dead Rising 2
Dead Rising two is somewhat underrated, considering its incredibly unique characters and features. There’s a motocross rider, customizable weapons, a girl you need to save, showgirls, and lots of mission. In between the gameplay, you can also play strip-poker an adult version of the game.
The game works by picking the right cards needed to reveal a short girl dressed in a bikini. It’s played against both men and women, and losing means parting away with crucial coins. However, it’s also fun and a great way to kill time.
If it’s not your thing, though, you can complete lots of other mini-games like killing zombies in a reality TV show.